Within my first few months of living in Pakistan as an outposted staff, I came face-to-face with the reality of waste management in the country.

Most cities have no waste segregation, no waste reduction program at the source, no formal recycling, and no comprehensive solid waste management strategy. To complicate matters, citizen awareness of proper waste disposal is low, with most collected waste ending up in uncontrolled, unsanitary dump sites.

As I became more immersed in the solid waste management sector, the dynamics of this reality struck me in a different light.

In the absence of public systems supporting segregation at the source, informal waste pickers are doing most of the collecting, sorting and processing of recyclable waste.  

Moreover, the social, economic, and environmental value of the service they provide is not only undervalued but continues to be constrained by regressive public policies.

A survey of waste workers in Bahawalpur, a fast-growing city in Punjab, found that these  waste pickers and scrap dealers, operating at the base of the pyramid, are often chastised. Such is the social stigma associated with their work, that these families and their children end up trapped within an intergenerational cycle of deprivation.

"Many times, people drive us away when we call out for scraps, especially in better-off areas,” noted one of the survey participants. “They say we're disturbing them, even though we're just trying to find a means to survive. We are not allowed to enter posh gated colonies or areas; the bylaws keep us out. It is like we are not welcome. It feels unfair, like we don’t belong in the city we live in."

Efforts to integrate informal waste workers into formal systems aim to foster a more sustainable and inclusive approach to waste management in Pakistan.

 There are numerous strategies that could be deployed to foster integration between the formal and informal sectors to establish a more sustainable framework for solid waste management.

Governments must develop clear regulations that suit their local context to better integrate informal waste workers into formal waste management systems. These rules should cover permits, health and safety standards, land use, and fees for waste disposal. Municipalities should ensure the regulations reach the grassroots level to be effective.

Collaborating with NGOs and social enterprises can elevate the visibility of waste workers and offer them legal recognition. Establishing an Informal Waste Workers Association is a key step, allowing workers access to training, financial literacy, and hazardous waste management programs.

Governments should also include waste workers in social safety nets by issuing special ID cards for health insurance and pension benefits.

To further support informal waste workers, access to loans through microfinance organizations, tied to conditions such as enrolling children in school, is essential.

 Financial incentives like tax benefits and performance-based subsidies can encourage waste workers and businesses to participate in formal systems. Additionally, public toilets, quarterly medical camps, and improved access to capital and equipment will enhance their working conditions.

Lastly, provincial governments should formalize middlemen, registering scrap dealers through chambers of commerce, to increase accountability and promote transparency. This strategy encourages fair competition and ensures the responsible sale of sorted waste to industries.

Efforts are underway to develop these and other options for the integration of formal and informal solid waste management service providers.

Working with the public sector to acknowledge and support the informal sector seeks to incorporate them into the broader waste management framework, ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable approach to waste management in the city.

 Sustainable practices and community involvement in waste management can have a positive impact on the health and well-being of future generations and on the environment. My hope is that one day when I visit Pakistan and walk the streets of Pakistan’s cities, I find vibrant markets free from litter, parks filled with families enjoying the outdoors, and neighbourhoods taking pride in their surroundings.